page_title: Clay Matthews Jr.
hierarchical_section_title: Clay Matthews Jr.
caption_attribution_description: English: Browns Pro Bowl LB Clay Matthews
context_page_description: William Clay Matthews Jr. is a former American football linebacker who played for the Cleveland Browns and the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Browns and played in 278 games over 19 NFL seasons, which initially ranked him at number 17 among most games played. Matthews had 1,561 tackles in his career, the third most in NFL history.
  He is the father of Clay Matthews III, an All-Pro linebacker who is currently a free agent, and brother of Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews.
context_section_description: William Clay Matthews Jr. (born March 15, 1956) is a former American football linebacker who played for the Cleveland Browns and the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Browns and played in 278 games over 19 NFL seasons, which initially ranked him at number 17 among most games played (currently at number 21, see List of NFL players by games played). Matthews had 1,561 tackles in his career, the third most in NFL history.
  He is the father of Clay Matthews III, an All-Pro linebacker who is currently a free agent, and brother of Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews.
caption: Matthews during the 1984 NFL season
exif: {}